VILLA boss Martin O'Neill has put 20-year-old rookie goalkeeper Robert Olejnik on red alert to make his Premiership debut after Stuart Taylor injured his knee last night.

VILLA boss Martin O'Neill has put 20-year-old rookie goalkeeper Robert Olejnik on red alert to make his Premiership debut after Stuart Taylor injured his knee last night.

Taylor pulled off a string of fine saves to deny the Blades and with Thomas Sorensen also likely to be sidelined for a time after injuring his knee against Middlesbrough, it leaves O'Neill with a headache.

Former Arsenal keeper Taylor was promoted to the team three matches ago and has not disappointed.

He will now be assessed by Villa's medical team.

O'Neill said today: "Stuart got a knee problem at the end and he couldn't kick the ball.

"He made some really great saves and that will have given him a real big boost, so we're hoping he'll be alright, but it's too early for me to comment."

Academy graduate Olejnik, nicknamed "The Beast" because of his hulking frame, only signed professional forms at Villa two years ago following his arrival from FK Austria in July 2003.

He has been on the bench for those three games but has never played for the senior side.

Olejnik has, though, got extensive international experience with Austria having represented them at under-17 and under-19 level.

Villa have another two young goalkeepers on their books in 18-year-old Irish youngsters Lee Boyle and Stephen Henderson.

But due to their lack of experience O'Neill may have to ask for special dispensation for an emergency loan from the Premier League.

Elsewhere, Wilfred Bouma was taken off with a nasty head wound after a clash of heads last night and will also be assessed ahead of Saturday's late kick-off against Bolton.

O'Neill added: "He got a heavy cut across the head and by the time he'd have had stitches, it would have been too long for us to carry on with 10 men, so we made the change accordingly."